1,700 teen pregnancies in 5 months prompt Meru County partnership
Meru County Governor Muthuma M'Ethingia during a press conference in 2022 when he was the deputy governor. He says no woman or girl should feel unsafe in her home, her school, or her market.
What you need to know:
- Meru County has recorded 336 GBV cases in 16 months and 9,500 teen mothers in 2023 alone.
- Tigania East leads the county's shocking statistics.
- The county government has launched an emergency partnership with Shofco to train local champions and build a safe house to tackle the escalating crisis.
Meru County has long been in the spotlight for troubling rates of gender-based violence (GBV) and teen pregnancies, but a new partnership aims to tackle these pressing issues head-on.
Statistics from the non-governmental organisation IPAS Alliance reveal that between January 2024 and May 15, 2025, police recorded 336 GBV cases across the county.
Tigania East recorded the highest number with 62 cases, followed by Imenti South with 59, Buuri East with 44, and Tigania West with 30 cases.
The figures paint an equally concerning picture for teen pregnancies. IPAS data shows Meru had 9,500 teen mothers in 2023 alone, whilst 1,700 teen pregnancies were recorded in Igembe Central between January and May 2025 – an alarming rate that has prompted urgent action.
The county government has now launched a partnership with Shining Hope for Communities (Shofco) to address these escalating problems.
Governor Muthuma M'Ethingia acknowledged the scale of the challenge, noting that many incidents of violence against women go unreported.
"No woman or girl should feel unsafe in her home, her school, or her market," M'Ethingia said at Kinoru Stadium.
"As a government, we are putting our budget, our laws, and our voice behind this commitment. Our partnership with Shofco is not just symbolic – it is action-oriented, community-led, and survivor-centred."
Shofco Chief Executive Kennedy Odede explained that the initiative would equip local communities with the knowledge and tools needed to protect women and combat violence.
"This partnership is about giving communities the tools to protect their own. It is about ensuring every woman can walk freely without fear," Odede said.
"When a girl is beaten, raped, or denied education, the entire community suffers. We will train local champions and build a safe house to ensure that every survivor finds a safe space as we deal with perpetrators using the justice system."
Local leaders have thrown their weight behind the initiative. Buuri MP Mugambi Rindikiri and former Meru Woman Representative Florence Kajuju both called for an end to GBV, teen pregnancies, and defilement.
"We must speak out, stand up, and stop our perpetrators from causing pain," said Rindikiri.
Kajuju decried the situation and its impact on the county's daughters.
"This issue is not just a crisis – it is a betrayal of our daughters. As leaders, we must legislate, allocate, and educate. We need a Meru where girls grow up, not give up."
The partnership represents a significant step towards creating safer communities for women and girls in Meru County, with local leaders and organisations working together to address these deep-rooted challenges.